Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  - October 5, 2016, 7:34 AM The Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed that it will re-engine its fleet of Anglo-French Jaguar strike aircraft. The plan was discussed by IAF Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha during his annual press conference this week. Raha was enthusiastic about the recently confirmed acquisition of Dassault Rafales, but cautious on progress with the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project with Russia. “Technology is improving so rapidly that weapon systems and platforms soon become redundant,” said Raha. This phenomenon is being addressed through the IAF’s Long Term Perspective Plan, a 15-year scheme that is divided into three five-year spans. Raha said that while most previous procurement “had been process-driven; it is now changing to outcome-driven.” Honeywell is to supply 270 F125IN turbofan engines to replace the twin Rolls-Royce Adour Mk 821s on apporoximately 120 Jaguars. The...

Posted by:  Neelam Mathews Jan 8, 2012   Even as India is believed to have given a June deadline to Dassault to present its offset plans, LaTribune reports Brazil, yet to decide on its MMRCA, has said Rafale’s maintenance costs are higher compared to its competitors, the Gripen (Saab) and F-18 (Boeing). “This does not mean that the Rafale is out of play,” it notes. (French to English translation of the article in Google of the Tribune  isn’t the world’s best! Apologies) But, here goes- some major points: There are many supporters of the Rafale that say:. "This is the most technologically advanced aircraft……We have many things to learn from cooperation with Dassault Aviation…..But the French offer must be better explained or otherwise improved," said an official to the Tribune. “As for the F/A-18 Hornet (Boeing), another rival for the Rafale, it benefits from euro / dollar rate to be competitive with the French aircraft,” quotes the paper. Like...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Dec 1, 2011 The Swiss government has selected Gripen as its future multirole fighter aircraft for the Swiss Air Force. "The Swiss type-selection confirms that Saab is a market-leader in the defense and security industry and that Gripen is a world-class fighter system that provides the best value for money”, says Håkan Buskhe, President and CEO Saab. The Gripen program will create a long-term partnership between Switzerland and Sweden. Saab says. The long-term strategic industrial co-operation is aimed at creating sustainable high tech jobs, transferring technology and generating export business. Saab, says it "stands prepared to start negotiations and await the next steps of the process." Gripen, that lost the Indian fighter bid,   is in service with the Swedish, Czech Republic, Hungarian, South African and Royal Thai Air Forces. The UK Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) is operating Gripen as its advanced fast jet platform for test...

PROGRAMS NEW DELHI AND LONDON — The Royal Thai Air Force is slated to receive its Saab 340-based Erieye airborne early warning system in December. The aircraft, along with a regular Saab 340 due to be handed over at the same time, are part of a larger Thai acquisition of an air defense system that has six Gripen C/D fighters at its core. Delivery of the fighters and a command and control system, with three ground-based radio controller sites, are to take place in March to Squadron 701 of the 7th Wing. At a ceremony at Saab’s factory in Linköping in Sweden this week, the company unveiled an integrated air defense system for Asian customers. Thailand signed the contract in early 2008, which covers the early warning aircraft, Gripens, and command and control system. The system has been procured in a framework of bilateral cooperation mainly focused on technology transfer. “I want to congratulate Thailand for an excellent air defense system and I look forward to our continued coope...